It is safe to say Michal Kwiatkowski is the expert when it comes to winning the Strade Bianche. The Pole – still only 27 years of age – is the only rider in the peloton to win the race twice. Other names still racing who took the honours in Tuscany are Aleksandr Kolobnev (2007, inaugural edition), Philippe Gilbert (2011), Moreno Moser (2013) and Zdenek Stybar (2015). Kwiatkowski did win the race in 2014 and 2017. With the exception of Kolobnev and the retired Cancellara, who won three times, all former winners line up at the start in Siena.
The field is impressive anyway. Alejandro Valverde is one of many major contenders. He finished on the podium of Strade Bianche twice, in 2014 and 2015, and is – once again – in great shape this early in the season. He won the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana and the Abu Dhabi Tour. Title defender Kwiatkowski is also in a winning mood, as he pocketed the GC at the Volta ao Algarve two weeks ago. A setback for Valverde was having stomach problems last week.
The Strade Bianche is famous for its dirt roads, often on sharp climbs. In 2018, the riders face eleven ‘sterrati’, which amounts to 63 kilometres on unpaved roads. The race totals 184 kilometers and the finale in Siena is a steep cobbled climb with ramps up to 16%.
The race is a war of attrition and it is wearing any rider out. Last year Michal Kwiatkowski, Greg Van Avermaet, Tim Wellens, Zdenek Stybar, Tom Dumoulin, Luke Durbridge and Christopher Juul-Jensen were the last remaining riders after the last gravel sector. Kwiatkowski attacked with 16 kilometres to go and initially no one responded. Then Van Avermaet, Wellens and Stybar tried to chase the former world Champion down, but to no avail.
Favourites 2018 Strade Bianche
***** Michal Kwiatkowski, Peter Sagan, Zdenek Stybar
**** Greg Van Avermaet, Gianni Moscon, Alejandro Valverde
*** Tom Dumoulin, Sep Vanmarcke, Philippe Gilbert
** Jasper Stuyven, Moreno Moser, Tiesj Benoot, Wout van Aert
* Vincenzo Nibali, Primoz Roglic, Christopher Juul-Jensen, Luke Durbridge
Strade Bianche 2018: Route maps, height profiles, and more
Click on the images to zoom
Strade Bianche Results
Strade Bianche Riders
Related articles Overview - Strade Bianche 20 More articles Critérium du Dauphiné 2019: Van Baarle outsprints Haig, Fuglsang seals GC
Tour de Suisse 2019: LL Sánchez storms to glory with late attack, Asgreen new leader
Tour de Suisse 2019 Route stage 3: Flamatt - Murten
Critérium du Dauphiné: Records and winners
Critérium du Dauphiné 2019: The Route
Tour de Suisse 2019: Riders
Tour de Suisse 2019: Favourites
Tour de Suisse 2019 Route stage 2: Langnau - Langnau
Tour de Suisse 2019 Route stage 4: Murten - Arlesheim
Tour de Suisse 2019 Route stage 5: Münchenstein - Einsiedeln
Tour de Suisse 2019 Route stage 6: Einsiedeln - Flumserberg
Tour de Suisse 2019 Route stage 7: Unterterzen - Gotthard Pass
Tour de Suisse 2019 Route stage 8: ITT in Ulrichen/Goms
Tour de Suisse 2019 Route stage 9: Ulrichen - Ulrichen
Tour de Suisse: Records and winners
Tour de France 2019: The Route
Tour de France 2019: Riders
Tour de France 2019 Route stage 1: Brussels - Brussels
Tour de France 2019 Route stage 2: Brussels - Brussels
Tour de France 2019 Route stage 3: Binche - Epernay
Tour de France 2019 Route stage 4: Reims - Nancy
Tour de France 2019 Route stage 5: Saint-Dié-des-Vosges - Colmar
Tour de France 2019 Route stage 6: Mulhouse - La Planche des Belle Filles
Tour de France 2019 Route stage 7: Belfort - Chalon-sur-Saône
Tour de France 2019 Route stage 8: Mâcon - Saint-Étienne
Tour de France 2019 Route stage 9: Saint-Étienne - Brioude
Tour de France 2019 Route stage 10: Saint-Flour - Albi
Tour de France 2019 Route stage 11: Albi - Toulouse
Tour de France 2019 Route stage 12: Toulouse - Bagnères-de-Bigorre
Tour de France 2019 Route stage 13: ITT in Pau
Tour de France 2019 Route stage 14: Tarbes - Col du Tourmalet
Tour de France 2019 Route stage 15: Limoux - Prat d'Albis
Tour de France 2019 Route stage 16: Nîmes – Nîmes
Tour de France 2019 Route stage 17: Pont du Gard - Gap
Tour de France 2019 Route stage 18: Embrun - Valloire
Tour de France 2019 Route stage 19: Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne - Tignes
Tour de France 2019 Route stage 20: Albertville - Val Thorens
Tour de France 2019 Route stage 21: Rambouillet - Paris
Tour de France: Winners and records
Vuelta 2019: The Route
Vuelta 2019: Riders
Vuelta 2019 Route stage 1: Las Salinas de Torrevieja - Torrevieja
Vuelta 2019 Route stage 2: Benidorm - Calpe
Vuelta 2019 Route stage 3: Ibi – Alicante
Vuelta 2019 Route stage 4: Cullera – El Puig
Vuelta 2019 Route stage 5: L’Eliana – Javalambre
Vuelta 2019 Route stage 6: Mora de Rubielos - Ares del Maestrat
Vuelta 2019 Route stage 7: Onda – Mas de la Costa
Vuelta 2019 Route stage 8: Valls – Igualada
Vuelta 2019 Route stage 9: Andorra la Vella – Cortals d’Encamp
Vuelta 2019 Route stage 10: Jurançon - Pau (ITT)
Vuelta 2019 Route stage 11: Saint Palais - Urdax
Vuelta 2019 Route stage 12: Circuito Navarra - Bilbao
Vuelta 2019 Route stage 13: Bilbao - Los Machucos
Vuelta 2019 Route stage 15: Tineo - Santuario del Acebo
Vuelta 2019 Route stage 16: Pravia - Alto de La Cubilla
Vuelta 2019 Route stage 18: Colmenar Viejo – Becerril de la Sierra
Vuelta a España: Winners and records
Giro 2019 Stage 21: Start times ITT in Verona
Tour of Britain 2019: The Route
Tour of Britain: Winners and records
Giro 2019 Route stage 20: Feltre - Croce d'Aune/Monte Avena
Giro 2019 Route stage 21: ITT in Verona
Giro 2019 Favourites stage 21: Last act
Giro 2019: The Route
Giro 2019: Riders
Giro 2019: Withdrawals
Giro 2019 Route stage 19: Treviso – San Martino di Castrozza
Giro 2019 Favourites stage 9: Roglic' blow in uphill ITT
World Cycling Championships: Winners and records
Tour of Flanders 2019: Alberto Bettiol solos to glory
Tour of Flanders 2019 - women: Bastianelli bests Van Vleuten and Ludwig in three-up sprint
Vuelta 2019 Route stage 21: Fuenlabrada - Madrid
Cycling Calendar 2019
Tour of Valencia 2019: Groenewegen wins last stage, Izagirre overall winner
Win a free cycling jersey!
Tour Down Under 2014 Route stage 1: Nuriootpa - Angaston
Tour Down Under 2014 Route stage 2: Prospect - Stirling
Tour Down Under 2014 Route stage 3: Norwood – Campbelltown
Race Results Service
